The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting kicks off in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, this week, with youth voices taking center stage in discussions about sustainable development and innovation. Among them is Danisha Decius, a Canadian Tsinghua University graduate, whose story exemplifies how cross-border educational collaboration can shape tomorrow's leaders.
Decius, who participated in CGTN's 'Act To Action' campaign highlighting youth contributions across APEC members, credits regional cooperation frameworks for enabling her studies in China. 'Meeting peers from across the Asia-Pacific opened my eyes to shared challenges,' she told KhabarAsia.com. 'Now, I see technology as the key to scaling these opportunities.'
Her optimism aligns with this year's APEC theme of 'Connect, Innovate, Prosper.' Decius emphasizes digital tools could democratize access to education, particularly for remote communities, while fostering new forms of cross-border professional training. 'Imagine VR classrooms connecting students from Peru to Papua New Guinea,' she suggested.
As APEC members explore post-pandemic recovery strategies, Decius' perspective underscores growing youth demand for tech-enabled solutions that bridge economic and social divides. The outcomes of this week's meetings may determine how quickly such visions translate into regional action.
